Rice trader turned media baron, his Essel Group owns television broadcaster Zee Entertainment, which has 500 million viewers in 167 countries; also owns Veria TV in the U.S., a wellness channel. Son Punit named Zee's chief executive last August. Subhash's brothers run Zee News and Dish TV. Other businesses include cable networks, online gaming, amusement parks, packaging, multiplexes. Co-owns DNA, a daily newspaper that competes with The Times of India. Launched his own cricket league. Practises Vippassana, a meditation technique; chairs the Global Vipassana Foundation which recently built a 325-foot-high stone pagoda in suburban Mumbai.